Artist: Randy Newman (Toy Story guy - "You've Got a Friend in Me")
Album: Good Ol' Boys
Year: 1972 (i think)
Song: Birmingham
Birmin'ham
Birmin'ham
Greatest city in Alabam'
You can travel 'cross this entire lan'
There ain't no place like Birmin'ham
I've made it home.
You all have humbled me with your kind comments.
I will have to edit the title of this thread now and put it in the past tense. My camper, once the beautiful carriage that took me to the ball (ala Cinderella), has turned back into a pumpkin in my driveway. Now I'm a homebody hoping SOMEONE will tell ME about their recent trip to the Fort.
I've had a chance to review the entire thread and to note the outstanding comments or issues that need answered or addressed and to post the odd comment:
ArielRae, thank you for being my proofreader and pointing out how I triple posted at one point. I could whine that posting on my phone via 3g with the spinning (processing) wheel means I never knew if an update was loaded or not. But you put me in my place. Thank you. It keeps me on my toes.
River Country AreaI spoke to many CM's about the plans for the land between the Fort and Wilderness Lodge. Most seemed to think it would be a DVC in the future but no one knew for sure. The folks at the horse barn (where Charlie was getting his bath) asked me how I knew so much when their boss and told them it was all hush-hush. I told them how Disney/Reedy Creek has to file water management permits with the State of Florida which are public record and showed the Horse Barn moving up to the front of the Fort, etc. I said it's public record if you know where to look. So who know. And who knows when. But this I promise. It won't be DVC campsites on the water. Waterfront real estate is too valuable to develop on one level. You have to think vertically.
Typos I have to apologize for all the typos in my TR. I was working off my Android phone (a fantastic 5" device). I know I could have brought my laptop but then my entire family would have tried to get their nose in it. And I could have brought a TV but the kids would have plopped down in front of it. So I left the laptop and tv at home. And guess what? They rode bikes. They swam in the pool at night. They fished. They made Mickey heads out of pine cones. We were on vacation. It was nice.
Special Project I worked on a little project which I will share the results of this week. Nothing big but it has been a frequent, recurring topic on the board lately. I know opinions are nice but I am an analytical type. I want facts, numbers, specs, and the like. So I will wrap it together and put it out there soon. It won't help everyone, mind you. But it will demonstrate some certainty about what I and others have been saying.
sbcnewhampshire1, if you are trying to come in soon and don't have a ressie, you might find the weekends filled up (popular with locals). Getting a weekday slot might be easier (or book up to 30 days and then drop the unwanted days). I hope you get in. You'll enjoy your visit.
Candikayne, good luck with DH on the SUV. I agree with the Goof Man. Most SUV's can handle a pop-up easily. But it really depends on the popup. Try to narrow that down because it will determine the type of Tow Vehicle (TV) you need. For example, the folks next to us from Michigan were in a small (8' under the roof) 1800# popup which they towed easily with a Subaru wagon. I have a heavy 12'-under-the-roof popup highwall with a slideout dinette that ways nearly 3500# max that I tow with my Suburban. It's overkill but I like it. Some minivans have a 3000-3500# towing capacity (with a tow package which means transmission cooler mostly). There are folks on here that can answer specific questions you might have that are smarter than me. Also make sure when you mean SUV you mean those on a truck frame (like Chevy Tahoe) which can pull heavier trailers than those smaller SUV's built on a car frame (like a Ford Escape) which can only tow lighter trailers. It's all in the numbers. And leave yourself a safety margin (towing capacity minus weight of trailer).
And October is nice weather-wise but weekends are crowded with locals and everyone else especially close to Halloween. As I told sbcnewhampshire1, you may have to book long and drop days later. If you want this year you better call now. If you need advice from us just ask. There are lots of folks who know the ropes.
Camping - The Resorts Don't Get ItI met so many nice folks in my loop this week. That's what we mean when we say we like the camping lifestyle. I met the folks across from us, the folks next to us, the folk two sites up who were also from the 'ham, and I met Andrew's dad Larry as I said. If you've stayed at Pop Century, have you met and talked with the folks in the room on either side of you? Above or below you? Know where they're from, how long they're staying, or something about them?
As I said, we campers are social folks. Fellow DISsers stopped by. Neighbors commented positively on my green Mickey ears sign. And some folks checking in today wanted to come by but they must have ran late. So if you are planning a visit to the Fort I suggest you leave some time in your schedule to relax and enjoy the resort. We were there 5 full days and spent only two days in the theme parks. That's about my speed. I know it varies based on how often you can come, etc.
Trip ReportsI'd like to say one last thing about Trip Reports (TR). This was only my second live TR. Some folks do pre-TR's, live-TR's, and post-TR's. Some are short. Some are long. Some have pictures. Some don't. I've been on the board for years and have heard people say, "I don't write well. I don't have anything new to say. I don't have the time".
Now that I'm a homebody, I'm hoping somebody will do any kind of TR of any kind to remind me of how nice the Fort is. You can tell ol' "triple post ED" (thanks again ArielRae) can't write well. I had pictures of turtles which I don't think are new. But if you read the comments I got, you know as I know that people enjoy any reminder of the Fort and the relaxing feeling it give them.
So I'm asking for anyone going to do a TR. Of whatever type suits you. Help those of us at home. Throw us a crumb, will you?
This is Bama Ed signing off.
ED